Adjustable header assembly



Jan. 10, 1967 J. E. R HENIZI 3,296,744

ADJUSTABLE HEADER ASSEMBLY Filed Oct. 6, 1964 FIGS INVENTOR. JOFFRE E. R HENTZI ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,296,744 ADJUSTABLE HEADER ASSEMBLY Joffre E. R. Hentzi, Kensington, Conn., assignor to The Stanley Works, New Britain, Coun., a corporation of Connecticut Filed Get. 6, 1964, Ser. No. 401,849 6 Claims. (Cl. 49-409) This invention generally relates to an overhead unit for suspending a sliding door and is more specifically directed to an improved adjustable header assembly for suspending a set of bypassing sliding doors for traversing movement.

A principal object of the present invention is the provision of an improved header assembly capable of being used as a standardized unit to accommodate normal variations in frame and door design while at the same time providing substantially uniform clearance between a sliding door and the conventional fascia overhanging the top of the door opening.

An additional object of the present invention is the provision of a standardized header assembly incorporating an improved track mounting bracket adapted for rigid attachment to an overlying split header, which is adjustable to accommodate walls of varying thickness, to provide a sag resistant unit capable of firmly suspending a set of bypassing sliding doors.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of improved means for mounting a track, where it is not practicable to mount the track directly to an overlying header, particularly suited for adjustment laterally of an overlying split header to compensate for doors and fascia of varying thickness.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of an improved header assembly which is simple in construction and suitable for use in custom fitting header assemblies despite variant frame and door design.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out more in detail hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction herei after set forth, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a header assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention for suspending a set of sliding doors;

FIG. 2 is a top view of a track mounting bracket incorporated in the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is another cross-sectional view similar to that of FIG. 1 wherein the present invention is shown in association with a set of sliding doors of larger dimension.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the preferred embodiment of the adjustable header assembly of the invention is illustrated as comprising an overlying header, generally designated by the numeral 10, supporting an underlying bracket designated 12 for mounting a longitudinally extending guide track designated 14. It is to be understood that a door opening is formed in a wall structure or the like framed out in any known manner to include the header 10 formed of a suitable material, such as wood, supported on its opposite ends by upright side jambs not shown, the opening being defined by header 10 and the side jambs in conjunction with a threshold or floor surface (not shown).

As illustrated, a set of bypassing sliding doors 16 and 18 are shown as being supported by a pair of hangers 20 and 22 preferably formed of heavy gauge steel and having nylon rollers 24 and 26 attached respectively to their uppermost ends for traversing movement along the guide track 14 which is depicted in the form of a double rail guide track. A fascia board 28 is suitably attached as ice at a corner butt joint to the header 10 to depend downwardly therefrom to conceal the header assembly.

To adjust for walls of different thickness, the header 10 is longitudinally spit into two portions each having a rabbeted edge forming a pair of projecting members or tongues 30 and 32 adjoining one another in lapping relationship. If desired, header 10 may also be inset within the dimensions of the wall to align the front of fascia board 28 flush with the outside wall surface to facilitate finishing of the door opening by conventional trim boards.

A plurality of track mounting brackets 12 are positioned at selected intervals along the longitudinally extending split header 10 and fixed to its bottom by suitable connecting means such as the wood screws 34, 36 to span the two header portions, the brackets 12 being in alignment with one another and transversely extending across the junction of the header 10 with opposite ends of each bracket 12 attached respectively to the header portions. Each bracket 12 includes a generally rectangular body preferably formed of cold rolled steel or the like with a stepped down intermediate segment 12a facilitating the attachment of track 14. Track 14 may likewise be shaped from cold rolled steel to form a pair of longitudinally extending front and rear rails 14a and 14b, depending downwardly in parallel relationship from a track platform 14c, and spaced apart a preselected distance so that the cooperating hangers 20 and 22 may be interchangeably mounted as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 3 on either the front or rear door of a siiding door set as required to maintain a uniform clear space between the doors, the latter customarily being dimensioned inch or 1% inches thick.

In order to provide a header assembly which will be capable of accommodating variations in door and fascia thickness and design in accordance with the invention, the stepped down intermediate segment 12a of bracket 12 is provided with an aperture 38 offset from a point midway between its ends. A length of track 14 cut to a proper length is attached to the brackets 12 by means of fasteners such as the screw 40, illustrated as being self-tapping, extending upwardly through a medial part of the platform of track 14 and received in the offset aperture 38 to assure a securely fixed connection. By virtue of the space formed between the stepped down intermediate segment 12a and the bottom of header 10, the screw 40 is extended completely through bracket 12 while being free from interference with split header 10 even when the screw 44 is positioned directly below one of the tongues 31) or 32.

It has been found that by dimensioning bracket 12 to extend transversely of header 10 a distance equal approximately to the total length of tongues 30 and 32, the bracket 12 will engage both portions of the split header 10 while at the same time providing sufficient lateral adjustability to accommodate most variations commonly encountered in door and fascia design to maintain therebetween substantially uniform clearance.

In addition to being spaced at different distances from the overhanging fascia within the dimension of header 10, bracket 12 is reversibly mountable for increased adjustability with its aperture 38 positioned toward and away from the fascia as illustrated respectively in FIGS. 1 and 3 so as to provide substantially uniform clearance between a set of sliding doors and the fascia, even though there are variations in door and frame construction. In this regard, FIG. 1 illustrates a set of relatively thin sliding doors 16 and 18 supported for traversing movement relative to a header assembly adjusted for a wall of minimum thickness with the bracket 12 abutting fascia board 28 and aperture 38 positioned left of center. FIG. 3 on the other hand shows a fascia board 42, joined to header 10 similarly to that illustrated in FIG. 1, with doors 44 and 46 of greater thickness suspended from the same header assembly. Bracket 12 is spaced apart from fascia board 42 and rotated 180 to position aperture 38 right of center to thereby compensate for the increased thickness of the doors, header being adjusted for maximum lateral extension for installation in a relatively thick wall. It will be further understood that a reversible bracket 12 of the type disclosed is also particularly suitable for use with fascia having cutouts and with other header assemblies where it is not practical to have the track directly mounted to an overlying header.

After having selectively adjusted header 10 with brackets 12 positioned thereon, the wood screw 36 is extended in accordance with another aspect of the invention through the lower tongue 32 and into overlapping tongue 30 of split header 10 as shown in phantom in FIG. 3. In this manner screw 36 is securely embedded in both tongues 30 and 32 for maximum purchase in supporting the track and for rigidly securing the tongues together.

The header assembly of the present invention is particularly suited to provide considerable latitude in adjusting to different frame and door designs to achieve uniform clearance while at the same time employing a minimum number of parts in a high strength assembly. Moreover, an adjustable header assembly of the type described is adapted for low cost fabrication and installation to provide a sturdy, integral suspension for sliding doors while securing the header portions together.

As will be apparent to persons skilled in the art, various modifications and adaptations of the structure above described will become readily apparent without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. For use in suspending a sliding door, a header assembly adapted to be mounted in the top of a door opening and comprising an overlying split header having a pair of longitudinally extending header portions laterally adjustable to accommodate Walls of varying thickness, an underlying track for supporting the sliding door for traversing movement and a track mounting device including a reversible bracket having one end attachable to one of the header portions and the opposite end attachable to the other of the header portions, the bracket having an aperture formed proximate but offset from a point midway between the ends, and a cooperating fastener extending through the track and received in the oifset aperture of the bracket for rigidly fixing the track to the bracket.

2. The header assembly as recited in claim 1 including connecting means attaching each end of the bracket to its respective header portion and wherein each header por tion includes a projecting tongue formed by a longitudinally extending ra'bbeted edge, the tongues adjoining one another in lapping engagement and spliced for maximum purchase by the connecting means in a rigidly fixed lapping joint upon being laterally adjusted to a selected position.

3. The header assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the bracket includes a stepped down intermediate segment spaced apart from the overlying header to prevent interference therewith by the fastener.

4. For use in suspending sliding doors of varying thickness in a position of substantially uniform clearance from fascia overhanging the top of the door opening wherein a track for supporting a door is positioned below an overlying longitudinally split header including a laterally adjustable rabbet joint having lapping members, a track mounting device mounting the track to the header comprising a reversible bracket having a generally rectangular body of predetermined length for spanning the joint and fixed at its opposite ends to the header, the body including a stepped down intermediate segment spaced apart from the overlying header and having an aperture formed proximate but offset from a point midway between the ends of the body, and a fastener received in the oifset aperture of the bracket affixing the track thereto.

5. The track mounting device as recited in claim 4 wherein connecting means are included for securing the ends of the bracket to the overlying split header, the connecting means extending through one end of the bracket and splicing the lapping members with maximum purchase in a rigidly fixed adjusted position.

6. The track mounting device as recited in claim 4 wherein the fastener is a screw extended upwardly through the track and completely through the aperture of the bracket, the upper end of the screw being received in a space formed between the stepped down intermediate segment of the bracket and the overlying header preventing interference therewith upon adjustment.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,185,650 1/ 1940 Shipway et al 49-505 2,832,105 4/1958 Pearson 49372 2,904,848 9/ 1959 Lieberenz 49-409 3,060,489 10/1962 Blackmer 1694 HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner.

KENNETH DOWNEY, Examiner. 

1. FOR USE IN SUSPENDING A SLIDING DOOR, A HEADER ASSEMBLY ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED IN THE TOP OF A DOOR OPENING AND COMPRISING AN OVERLYING SPLIT HEADER HAVING A PAIR OF LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING HEADER PORTIONS LATERALLY ADJUSTABLE TO ACCOMMODATE WALLS OF VARYING THICKNESS, AN UNDERLYING TRACK FOR SUPPORTING THE SLIDING DOOR FOR TRAVERSING MOVEMENT AND A TRACK MOUNTING DEVICE INCLUDING A REVERSIBLE BRACKET HAVING ONE END ATTACHABLE TO ONE OF THE HEADER PORTIONS AND THE OPPOSITE END ATTACHABLE TO THE OTHER OF THE HEADER PORTIONS, THE BRACKET HAVING AN APERTURE FORMED PROXIMATE BUT OFFSET FROM A POINT MIDWAY BETWEEN THE ENDS, AND A COOPERATING FASTENER EXTENDING THROUGH THE TRACK AND RECEIVED IN THE OFFSET APERTURE OF THE BRACKET FOR RIGIDLY FIXING THE TRACK TO THE BRACKET. 